The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-20
the building of the Palatka. WeIaka and

the building of the Palatka. Welaka and
Spring Grove Railroad, which will cross
the river at some point between Nor
walk and Fort Gates. In Little Lake
George is to be found the deepest water
on the st. Johns River, place known as
''Croaker Hole" from the fact that large
quantities of the croaker fish are caught
there. 1t has been sounded to a depth of
$50 feet, but the bottom was not found.
Norwalk, the center of a very flourish
ing community, is located about two
miles back from the river, but the land
ing place is the first stopping point on
the west side of the river above Palatka.
Here, also. the people of Kerr City, Har-
ward and many other places land.
Mount Royal, on the east side Of the
river, next comes in view, where are To-
Gated the large groves and thrifty gar
dens of Messrs. Kirby, Wright and Var
mum, and opposite is Fort Gates, the
beautiful home of Mr.. S. U. Hammond
and others.
At Mt. Royal the first English settle
ment was made, fully 120 years ago.
The place was thoroughly cultivated by
them, and sugar and cotton grown to a
considerable extent. Il was also base
of supplies for neighboring settlements.
VIM. Bartrem, the royal botanist, Wis
tied this place in his famous explorations
under the reign of King George Ill.
of sacred memory. After the Eng
lish had removed from the coun-
try, the settlement was broken up, and
cultivation ceased until just before the
civil war. After the close of the war;
Messrs. Wright and Kirby bought the
tract, and cultivated it to oranges. Fort
Gates was a military post during the
| Seminole war.
Here we come to the mouth of Big
Lake George, pass Georgetown and Lake
| George landings, Hog Island and the
| historical and now productive Drayton
Island, once the headquarters of power
full Indian tribes, and then we are fairly
on the bosom of the famous lake. In
size 1T is nineteen miles long and twelve
miles broad. In a calm the water is as
bright and smooth as the surface of a
| mirror, but in a gale or storm the water
rolls in huge waves white with foam. and
so ugly do they get at times that the
smaller boats have to seek harbOr outside
it's banks, to escape almost certain wreck.
| Away off to the west can be seen Yellow
Bluff, the highest point OH the river, and
further to the south is Spring Grove.
where is located the great Greenleaf
grove, and all along the banks IN the
distance can be seen settlements and
groves.
Crossing the lake we srrive at our des-
tination-Volusia bar. Here we find a
government lighthouse, and force of
men employed by the government at
work improving the jetties and deepening
the channel. The water is now about five
feet and six inches deep, too shallow for
the Sylvan Glen to pass over, and the
pilot runs her nose into a sand bank and
waits for the arrival of the Anita, from
Sanford. which soon comes alongside,
and the through passengers are quickly
transferred from one boat to the other.
Backing away from the bar, the Sylvan
Glen is turned around and we come
through the big lake again, and once in
the narrow stream we are brought to
Palatka IN good time for supper at the
hotels, or to take the trains for Jackson
Vile and st. Augustine.
The trip is a most delightful one, the
fare cheap, the service first cIass, officers
and walters attentive, and the boat il
perfectly safe and under the guidance OF
one of the best engineers on the river
MIR. Paul Phillips. Our Northern visit.
ors could find no more pleasant means OF
Willing away a day than going to Volu.
STA bar and returning. The trip has to
be taken to be appreciated.